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Dirk tugs on my arm, encouraging me to sit down. “Did you tell them I don’t want to be here?”

“Just tell her Jackson. She’s an adult. She can handle it.”

Handle what?

“Fine, but JD and I were planning on coming up. We’re already on the way.”

I slide back into the chair, this time bringing both of my knees to my chest, bracing myself for whatever he’s about to say. I don’t know what it could possibly be. There’s no way my parents would have agreed to letting them keep me here.

“When we got to your house, your parents didn’t even know you weren’t there. They thought you were in your room.”

Okay. Well, that makes sense. I mean, I do spend a lot of time in my room when they’re home.

“I told them exactly what was up. They were very disappointed in you.”

My head falls. I’m disappointed in me, too. “I guess I can’t hold that against them,” I mumble.

“Oh, don’t think they were disappointed in your behavior. They were disappointed that you would associate with people like us.”

“Like us?” I’m so confused.

“Bikers.”

“Did you tell them about … Ash and me?” My eyes dart between Jesse and Dirk because it sounds weird to even say.

“Lex, I told them everything. I also told them I was of the opinion that you were raped in high school by a classmate, even though I know you don’t see it that way.”

“Why would you tell them that!” I begin to panic, but I don’t let him answer before popping off my next question. “What did they say?” The sound of my voice is drowned out by the ringing of my ears.

“They didn’t say anything. I’m really sorry, Lexie.”

“They were only worried about my association with you?”

“More specifically that you had let us into their home.”

My eyes widen, and I jump from my seat. “That I let you intheirhome?” I ask. Or yell. I’m not sure which, because there is a freight train running through my head right now.

“Goddammit, Dirk, I’m not doing this over the phone. JD and I are on the way. We’ll finish this conversation then.”

I begin to back away from the table. “That’s okay. You don’t have to come. I’m fine. I get that they’re upset with me … but … I guess I don’t understand why the club trying to help me would make them angry. You guys were looking after me …” My words stop abruptly because I’m so confused.

“Lexie. We’re on our way.”

The phone clicks and the conversation ends.

My gaze bounces everywhere but at the table. This is really awkward. I’m not sure what to think about any of this. “Maybe they were angry about everything Jackson was telling them about me, and they took it out on the messenger.” I don’t wait for Jesse and Dirk to agree. “Or maybe they were in shock … I don’t know why Jackson would tell them about the night Ash found me and took me to Kelsie’s.”

I shake my head, and back up another step. “You know, I’m not very hungry. Maybe you can teach me to cook some other time,” I tell Jesse without looking at her, and then I run up the stairs.

Neither of them try to stop me, and I’m beyond thankful for that.

The minute my head hits the pillow, the longing for home sets in. An ache I can’t explain. Sometimes I think it’s for the place I remember as a child. The tiny apartment we lived in when my parents were both in college. I was an “oops” baby. They had me when they were in high school.

My parents were like two passing ships in the night, but at least one of them was always home with me. I miss it. I miss them. My heart longs to be little again. My mom would always let me color beside her at the kitchen counter as she did her homework. Dad did his on the couch. He liked old movies. Mom used to tease him, wondering how he got anything done sitting in front of the TV. I loved it.The Wizard of Ozwas his favorite …

Dirk knocks on the wall. “I brought you some breakfast. The guys will be here in about an hour,” he says, nodding for me to scoot up.

“I don’t know why they’re even coming.”